His classic impersonations made the original Channel Nine cricket commentators household names, but now, Billy Birmingham has announced his ’12th Man’ franchise will end with one final album on November 27.
Birmingham’s first album was in 1984 titled ‘It’s just not cricket’ and introduced his own take on Australia’s national sport and in particular Channel Nine’s iconic commentary team with Richie Benaud the central figure.
Birmingham’s ability to portray Bill, Tony, Chappelli, and Richie while also creating a narrative around Nine’s Wide World of Sports as a whole has made him a legend.
Each album had its own unique theme. From the early Wide World of Sports TV show with Max Walker, to a ‘This is Your life’ on Bill Lawry and the brilliance of poking fun at Eddie McGuire’s ‘Boned’ comment and cutbacks at the network when he was CEO of Channel Nine.
Thanks to Billy Birmingham, the listener got to imagine what it would be like if Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren, Darrell Eastlake and Hansie Cronje ever commentated cricket. He also made an impressive fantasy list of cricketers from the sub-continent. Who could forget ‘Rarbish Binny, Aqib Ma-teeth-in-a-jar-beside-the-bed, Wasee A-Crim and Penut Butajar.
Birmingham’s uncanny knack of satirising Nine’s coverage made cricket fans chuckle as it wasn’t too far from the truth. In one scenario he pretended Tony Greig was explaining the value of the ‘scrotometer’ – a piece of equipment that players attach to their testicles so that viewers can assess the player’s comfort level.
This sort of ludicrous scenario isn’t so ludicrous when you consider Nine used the ‘Hot Spot’ on the fifth day of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand to see how hot Adam Voges’ leg was when shining the ball on his trousers (see video above).
The popularity of Birmingham’s albums is nothing short of extraordinary with eight reaching number one on the ARIA charts.
While Richie may not have been a fan of Birmingham’s work, there’s no doubting the impersonator made him and the rest of the characters he portrayed even more famous to sports and non-sports fans alike.
It was perhaps inevitable that with the deaths of Richie Benaud and Tony Greig Birmingham would pull up stumps. To go out on a high Birmingham announced he wouldn’t do a new album, but, as a tribute to Richie will release a ‘best of’ with his favourite Richie moments on one album.
Roarers with the end of era, what are your favourite ’12th Man’ moments over the years?
Cameron
Guest
I think one of the best moments will be from the first Wired World of Sports when they're calling the soccer. No problems with the European sounding names. Then Smith gets subbed on. "I think I pronounced that correctly". Hilarious. Good luck for the future Bill.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
He's retired hurt, Very hurt after some of those comments from his team mates.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
"Which one shall I wear? The beige, the bone, the cream or the off-white?" And let's not forget everyone's favourite subcontinental cricketers - Eedrivesfastcars and Halfeez Handsmissin.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Asif eed givasheed, and his brother aahd say eed givasheed.
Gurudoright
Guest
To this day every time I need to spell marvellous, I need to sing it, 'it's a M.A.R- V.E.L.L-O.U.S, that's right'
JGK
Roar Guru
Richie: "OK, we're going to kick off with the Chappell brothers" Bill and Tony: "You're fcuking what?!" Tony: "You cornt be serious" Bill: "Ludicrous decision, completely lacking in logic"
JGK
Roar Guru
Still the best: "Amir Sohail" "Hail Richie, Hail the Great Man. Hail". I am pretty sure I wet myself the first time I heard that.
JGK
Roar Guru
Rick Disneck. And I think it was Darryl Eastlake who did the interview.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yeah, well I'll let him know you said that Tony.
matth
Guest
The Mike Gibson interview in 'Wired World of Sports' with the guy who ran head first into the pommel horse is a favourite.
mattatooski
Roar Rookie
These f__king cars go round and round and round and round. Its so f__king boring .....
matth
Guest
Merv Hughes! The Big Man! I love him! I want to boof him! Yeeeess!
mattatooski
Roar Rookie
Comments from the supercoach ..... Im sure there was a cricket player called Marda Farka too. Funny stuff
PureAussie
Guest
and Jack says "don't tell me to pierce off F**k knuckle" then - THUMP!
VivGilchrist
Guest
"Weeell Bill, I don't know about him showing any guts. The only guts hes shown is popping out that skin tight Aussie shirt of his".
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
"Kickoff? What bloody game are we playing here...has everyone gone completely mad?" The 12th Man is such a legend. I love all his stuff. *Loads 12th Man playlist*
Don
Roar Rookie
An old classic from the Supertest days; Richie; To work out Sri Lanka's required run rate, you divide the number of balls bowled by the number of balls faced, multiply by the average age of the Sri Lankan side, and add the number of spanners in a Sydchrome tool kit. Now that'll leave the Sri Lankans with a target of around 35, 36 runs an over, not an impossible task, but pretty f**king close to it.
Brett Daniels
Guest
Miandad-the father/son combination.
Kris Swales
Expert
Haven't heard this but was just in hysterics reading it! Some of the most quintessentially Australian humour of all time. Good innings with a perfectly timed declaration.
12th Man Fan
Guest
Rabbs Warren calling the cricket ... “As Fleming comes in again now to Boucher … Boucher sends it on to Ponting … Ponting back over the stumps to Gilchrist … cut out ball from Gilchrist to Steve Waugh … little bit of fancy stuff there from Steve as he rubs the ball on his ‘jazz crackers’, almost taunting the opposition … back it goes now to Fleming, back where the whole play started, and Australia are in possession, right in the middle of the field.”